A brake in the action

A reader notes this Alfa Romeo on Stanton Street with a curious sign on its windshield...

"Be careful. Brakes Failing."

The reader asks good questions: Why would someone put this sign on their car? Do they expect someone to steal it, and they just want to warn them about the failing brakes? Or maybe someone put the sign on the car as a joke? Or...

What happens when there are 'Wet Paint' signs at the Second Avenue F stop

Many thanks to BaHa for these photos...

One of those nights....

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Wire service

Wire circa 1987.

Planning meeting to occupy Wall Street in Tompkins Square Park tomorrow

The planning to occupy Wall Street continues tomorrow at 5 p.m. with a meeting in Tompkins Square Park...

More details here.

A look at the new-look Sidewalk, now with 'boozy $10 milkshakes'

[Photo yesterday by Bobby Williams]

As we first reported, Sidewalk closed its doors on Avenue A and Sixth Street for renovations on March 1. The bar and music venue is open now; and the whole place will be ready Monday.

Gothamist got a look inside the renovated space, and notes that the new management is focusing on more quality food and drinks, including "boozy $10 milkshakes."

Per Jamie Feldmar at Gothamist:

The newly renovated space is making food a top priority, with all day-and-night breakfast platters like crème brûlée French toast with bacon, plus dinners like Israeli-style chicken schnitzel and the aforementioned line of spiked milkshakes, with options like the Monkey Business (bourbon, banana, peanut butter, chocolate, ice cream) and Grasshopper (whipped cream vodka, crème de minthe, coffee liquor, ice cream).

Previously.

Breaking: The summer is going by too quickly

Or around the time that I toss the (unread) Summer Fun issues of various local publications that I was saving. And I have yet to go to Coney Island ... didn't make it to Belmont Park ... Let's focus now on fall movies! Fall fashions! Football! Best fall getaways. 10 books that you need to read this fall. Then in October, I'll have another post on how quickly fall has passed.

Anyway, in general, kind of a lousy summer? Yes? (No?)

Speaking of the summer going by too quickly...

...an offer for this appeared in my inbox this week...

The Department of Health is ready for the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop

The Big Gay Ice Cream Shop is one of notable yet-to-open East Village food shops/restaurants — including Tompkins Square Bagels and The Cardinal — to have a blank page on the DOH website. Apparently the DOH is just waiting to stop by! Make sure you have those food allergy information posters conspicuously posted!

How about a few of these for Tompkins Square Park?

[Photo by Heather Hoffman]

A reader passed along this photo taken in Stuyvesant Square Park. It likely wouldn't stop the likes of the notorious Pigeon Lady, but, perhaps, the sign would give other people pause.

Meanwhile, The Villager weighs in with an editorial on the TSP Ratstravaganza in this week's edition. You can read that here.

Beware of the dog, obviously

On St. Mark's Place. Photo by Bobby Williams.

Poker den folds in the East Village; shuffles off to Midtown

On Wednesday, a reader noted that Chico was painting this "for rent" sign above the retail space at 27 Avenue C between Second Street and Third Street. It looks like a typical storefront. However, since late June, New York City Poker had been operating out of the space.

The Poker folks closed the place on Aug. 1, choosing to move to larger quarters in Midtown. Per the New York City Poker website:

Why is NYC Poker Tour relocating?
• Friday, July 29th 2011, there were too many effing people. With only 4 poker tables and a wait list of 25+ people there was mayhem. It was hot. It was disorganized.
• Our venue was wonderful. Previously, it was a poker room and had tons of nostalgia, plus room for improvements. At first I really wanted to spruce up the place, but in the end popular opinion wanted a complete renovation. After reviewing the financials it just seemed smarter to relocate.
• The location was near some train lines, but was not central to Manhattan or easy to travel to at all times, so for our next venue we look to be more accessible by mass transit and near easier parking.
• Security. Security. Security. Our storefront was great, but security is really important, so for our next venue players will need to do more than just knock on the door.

Speaking of security, Ian Duncan reported at the Local East Village on Aug. 2 that two armed men robbed the club on July 30. The robbers — who weren't wearing masks — left with $6,500 in cash and a Medicaid card, according to the Local. The operator, Jeremy Martin, told Duncan that the robbery played a major part in the decision to move.

P.S.
Go here if you want to read about their new home on West 35th Street.

'Crazy Landlord' finally getting his wish on Second Avenue?

Several readers told us that workers were putting up a sidewalk shed yesterday at Third Street and Second Avenue, home to the infamous "crazy landlord" who "must rent this store."

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

One reader asked a worker if this meant the space had been rented. "Yeah... I guess so," the worker said.

According to the DOB, plans to for a "new storefront and interior renovation" were disapproved in July. However, last week, the DOB did OK plans to erect the sidewalk shed here. The plans for the Belgian ale house — a "sexier Balthazar" — are apparently dead for the space.

Monday new Last Night for Banjo Jim's

Banjo Jim's has been able to squeak out a little more time before closing its doors for good (originally set for Aug. 2) ... per the Banjo Jim's website, Monday is the grand finale.

And as the site shows, random musicians have by stopping by to play...

Mattress Mobile spotted on Avenue B

Photo by @jcpatel

Have bedbugs will travel!

Peels by numbers

On the Bowery at Second Street today. (At first look, I thought the artist was drawing the dumpster... but it's just the angle of the easel...) Photo by Bobby Williams.

Noted

On East 10th Street a little bit ago. Photo by John Iz. Turns out this fellow isn't exactly a trailblazer on the weed sign front. Check out this article from the Daily News.

Today's sign of the apocalypse: A mini golf-bocce ball-nightclub combo on University Place

The 16,000-square-foot Greenwich Village Country Club is coming this fall from the Bowlmor Lanes folks, Eater reports. Oh, and there's shuffleboard too. At University and 13th Street.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

The TSP rats don't disappoint in their national debut (Neither More Nor Less)

New border for the East Village: 20th Street, says Stuy Town (The Observer)

The pre-iPod, iPad, i-everything subway of NYC (Nonetheless)

Another longtime, unglam business exits the Meatpacking District (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Celebrating 15 years of the New York International Fringe Festival (DNAinfo)

Looking at "Entourage" actress Constance Zimmer's East Village home (New York Post)

Anarchy and austerity: Why London won't be the last city to burn (The Atlantic)

And NYU is moving into the revamped Fairchild Publications Building at 7 E. 12th St. (The Real Deal)

After careful investigation, Key Food is still the least-expensive beer option of East Village grocery stores

After yesterday's hard-hitting post on Key Food raising the price of Pabst from $3.60 to $4.99, we decided to take an undecidedly unscientific poll of what other East Village grocery stores charge for cheap beer.

For your reference...

Key Food:
Pabst — $4.99
Natural Ice — $4.79
Milwaukee's Best Premium – $3.99

So.

Met Foods on Second Avenue near Sixth Street...
Pabst — Crap, I forget. It was more than $4.99 though.
Natural Ice — $5.19
Milwaukee's Best Premium – $4.99

So, would it be safe to assume that prices would go down the further east you go? No!

At the Associated on Avenue C at Eighth Street, the Pabst was $11.49 a 12-pack. (A six-pack of Budweiser in cans? $8.49! No Pabst in six packs.)

And at Fine Fare on Avenue C at Fourth Street...

Pabst — $6.99
Natural Ice & Natural Light — $4.99

...but the handy-dandy bro-pack of 24 is $19.99....

Bonus cheap beer tip:

The 12-packs of Natural Ice & Natural Light were just $6.59 at the Rite Aid on Avenue D...

Assume they are the same price at the Rite Aid locations on First Avenue and 14th Street. Enter at your own peril.